Its a wonderful mystery story set in the time of the 2nd World war. Dont worry it is not a war movie...Its more of a comedy...
I wont say it was delightful but yes was good to watch with remarkable performances....couldnt figure out the killer, so am a bit disappointed...a mystery story must not be written on...see it in ur free time..will be worth a watch.....
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Main Meri Patni Aur Woh (2005)(Hindi)
Well, dont complain about this film finding a place among all other stalwarts....this is not a classic...However Bollywood has been evolving in the last decade or so....there have been quite a few with an alternative storyline...
The film talks about the universal feeling of insecurity a husband might face if his wife is beautiful...way over what he could have deserved...while the husband has delved deep into a pit filled with the stench of suspicion and sewer of jealousy, the wife, oblivious of everything is happy with her family life....
the story line is simple..but it is a watchable comedy if want to see something light..the music is pleasing and background score appropriate...there might not be much to ponder after the movie is over, but definite the brilliant performances will grip you.
Overall 6/10
acting 7.5/10
The film talks about the universal feeling of insecurity a husband might face if his wife is beautiful...way over what he could have deserved...while the husband has delved deep into a pit filled with the stench of suspicion and sewer of jealousy, the wife, oblivious of everything is happy with her family life....
the story line is simple..but it is a watchable comedy if want to see something light..the music is pleasing and background score appropriate...there might not be much to ponder after the movie is over, but definite the brilliant performances will grip you.
Overall 6/10
acting 7.5/10
Friday, December 28, 2007
Shatranj ke khilari (Hindi/English)
The collection of classic films on this blog was incomplete without an entry from Satyajit Ray...in the league of extraordinary directors...he is probably the only Indian who stands out...
this film is pure art...a flawless piece of art..and it has achieved what none other form of art could probably have done...a complete description of the Indian aristocracy before the Indian revolt of 1857..
The film opens with a chess board and reminds of Bergman's "The Seventh Seal". this movie too is a treatise...
The movie is based on the annexation of Awadh by the East India Company in 1856...the movie is sure to take u back in time...the sets are flawless...Ray used cartoons to depict parts of the film...I think this was the first time such a concept was used in India....
The acting is engrossing...Amjad Khan speaks with his eyes....the movie is just a poetry translated on celluloid...for all cinema lovers this is a must watch...(beware..the pace of the movie is a bit slwo)
Acting 9/10
Direction 9.5/10
Overall 9/10
this film is pure art...a flawless piece of art..and it has achieved what none other form of art could probably have done...a complete description of the Indian aristocracy before the Indian revolt of 1857..
The film opens with a chess board and reminds of Bergman's "The Seventh Seal". this movie too is a treatise...
The movie is based on the annexation of Awadh by the East India Company in 1856...the movie is sure to take u back in time...the sets are flawless...Ray used cartoons to depict parts of the film...I think this was the first time such a concept was used in India....
The acting is engrossing...Amjad Khan speaks with his eyes....the movie is just a poetry translated on celluloid...for all cinema lovers this is a must watch...(beware..the pace of the movie is a bit slwo)
Acting 9/10
Direction 9.5/10
Overall 9/10
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Pan's Labyrinth(2006)(Spanish)
There are very few films that are a treat to watch...a visual delight..Among the films that have come forth in the last few years...this movie is one of them..
If I tell you this is a fairytale..u would probably be put off...its true that the protagonist is a 11yr old girl but this movie has deep undercurrents..the gruesome scenes can put off any kid..The way the real and the fairy tales have been coherently merged calls for kudos...
At a superficial level, this film may not seem to have any meaning..after a bit of thinking I realized that the film actually contrasts two antagonistic characters-Ofelia the 11yr old protagonist and the captain,her step-father. Both of them are stern in their beliefs-Ofelia lives in her wonderland..Captain Vidal believes in his philosophy of viciousness..Both of them are are so engrossed in their world they dont fear death....they want immortality in their own worlds....
the classic debate of good vs the evil has been beautifully painted on celluloid...Dont miss this classic...
8/10
If I tell you this is a fairytale..u would probably be put off...its true that the protagonist is a 11yr old girl but this movie has deep undercurrents..the gruesome scenes can put off any kid..The way the real and the fairy tales have been coherently merged calls for kudos...
At a superficial level, this film may not seem to have any meaning..after a bit of thinking I realized that the film actually contrasts two antagonistic characters-Ofelia the 11yr old protagonist and the captain,her step-father. Both of them are stern in their beliefs-Ofelia lives in her wonderland..Captain Vidal believes in his philosophy of viciousness..Both of them are are so engrossed in their world they dont fear death....they want immortality in their own worlds....
the classic debate of good vs the evil has been beautifully painted on celluloid...Dont miss this classic...
8/10
Monday, December 10, 2007
Run Lola Run(1998) (German)
This movie runs for about 47 minutes. So dont put off watching this movie. watch it as soon as u can..If you are sad u will be merrier in 47 minutes, if u r stressed, u will be relaxed, if u r ________ you will be _________...
What should I call this film--a thriller?a masterpiece? stylistic classic? dumbstruck really....I havent seen any film with a concept like this..If you do please put in a note..
The movie is about Lola who receives a frantic call frm her BF..to save his life she has to have 100 grand mark in 20 minutes..thats simple storyline...what keeps u on ur toes is the style..The film describes 3 different ways in which the story could progress...Lola keeps running to beat time..with crisp editing and exhilarating sequences, throbbing music and stunning visuals, this film will surely be engross you....For all those copycat directors and storytellers..watch this film to see how a simple plot can be manipulated to throw in a classic that would please any crosssection of the society.
Watch out right from the prologues, if you dont love it, I will stop writing this blog....
Overall-8/10
Originality-9.5/10
Music-9/10
Acting 8/10
What should I call this film--a thriller?a masterpiece? stylistic classic? dumbstruck really....I havent seen any film with a concept like this..If you do please put in a note..
The movie is about Lola who receives a frantic call frm her BF..to save his life she has to have 100 grand mark in 20 minutes..thats simple storyline...what keeps u on ur toes is the style..The film describes 3 different ways in which the story could progress...Lola keeps running to beat time..with crisp editing and exhilarating sequences, throbbing music and stunning visuals, this film will surely be engross you....For all those copycat directors and storytellers..watch this film to see how a simple plot can be manipulated to throw in a classic that would please any crosssection of the society.
Watch out right from the prologues, if you dont love it, I will stop writing this blog....
Overall-8/10
Originality-9.5/10
Music-9/10
Acting 8/10
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Ikiru(1952) (Japanese)
Kurosawa continues to baffle me. It is not unless u see the bests of these greats that u realize why they are a cut above the rest.
The last Kurosawa i watched was Dreams..another path-breaking movie. Ikiru delves deep into human character.
It traces the last 5 months of a man who has come to know that he has stomach cancer. He knew he wouldnt last for more than 6 months..Inititally, he thought he would enjoy life.All throughout his life he had lived like a Mummy in a stingy way to raise his motherless son. But his son and daughter-inlaw cared little for him. He withdrew a large sum of money from the bank to enjoy himself but he didnt know how to spend. at a pub, he chanced on a good-for-nothing author who promised to show him how to enjoy.
But what was the enjoyment with money.. they stooped low, went to casinos, strip bars, dance bars, slept with prostitutes. Clearly a man of virtues he did not enjoy himself. next he wanted to cling on to a young woman full of zippy mirth. It was during one of these dates that he realized that he had to do something to make his life worthwhile...
He rebelled against everythign fearlessly to build a park filling a cesspool. It was hen that he found true joy..the joy of doing something good, achieving something worthwhile...In a way he was born when he came to know cancer.....Most of us spend our lives doing nothing..when we look back at life at out deathbed...we simply realise, we just had been busy..but the net output was zero....
Watch this movie..it might change your life.
Acting-9/10
Screenplay and dialogues-9/10
Overall 9/10
The last Kurosawa i watched was Dreams..another path-breaking movie. Ikiru delves deep into human character.
It traces the last 5 months of a man who has come to know that he has stomach cancer. He knew he wouldnt last for more than 6 months..Inititally, he thought he would enjoy life.All throughout his life he had lived like a Mummy in a stingy way to raise his motherless son. But his son and daughter-inlaw cared little for him. He withdrew a large sum of money from the bank to enjoy himself but he didnt know how to spend. at a pub, he chanced on a good-for-nothing author who promised to show him how to enjoy.
But what was the enjoyment with money.. they stooped low, went to casinos, strip bars, dance bars, slept with prostitutes. Clearly a man of virtues he did not enjoy himself. next he wanted to cling on to a young woman full of zippy mirth. It was during one of these dates that he realized that he had to do something to make his life worthwhile...
He rebelled against everythign fearlessly to build a park filling a cesspool. It was hen that he found true joy..the joy of doing something good, achieving something worthwhile...In a way he was born when he came to know cancer.....Most of us spend our lives doing nothing..when we look back at life at out deathbed...we simply realise, we just had been busy..but the net output was zero....
Watch this movie..it might change your life.
Acting-9/10
Screenplay and dialogues-9/10
Overall 9/10
Metropolis(1927)
It depends on how you view this film..If u are a sci-fi buff and have devouvered te Star Wars series etc...u will think this is an idiotic sci-fi...but this film was made in 1927...the pictur equality was bad, the technology not improved, still the film managed to carve a niche for itself.
What sets it apart is the originality..the vision of the future that otehr film lacks...the robot like movements of the human worker class is touching...the human like movements of the robot is awe inspiring...If u can have no problems with a silent movie you will definitely like this one.
Well like most sci-fi movies(aka Brazil) this movie is a satire..If u have been following my blog, u will know that I have a strong affinity for satires. So I will give it a high rating..But the caution-if u are not of 'this' type u may not like this silent film .
Acting-8/10
Originality-9/10
Overall 8/10
What sets it apart is the originality..the vision of the future that otehr film lacks...the robot like movements of the human worker class is touching...the human like movements of the robot is awe inspiring...If u can have no problems with a silent movie you will definitely like this one.
Well like most sci-fi movies(aka Brazil) this movie is a satire..If u have been following my blog, u will know that I have a strong affinity for satires. So I will give it a high rating..But the caution-if u are not of 'this' type u may not like this silent film .
Acting-8/10
Originality-9/10
Overall 8/10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
